Solar-assisted patch cart

• US 20060099031A1
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Randy Rathe
• Original Assignee: Randy Rathe
• Inventors: Rathe, Randy
• Application Number:
  US10/984,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20060099031A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 404/95
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/08 Apparatus for transporting and heating or melting asphalt, bitumen, tar, or the like stationarily-arranged melting boilers for tar, asphalt, or the like, in general C10C3/12
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/06 Devices or arrangements for working the finished surface working freshly laid paving E01C19/42 - E01C19/44, E01C23/02; mining picks E21C35/18; Devices for repairing or reconditioning the surface of damaged paving; Recycling in place or on the road

Abstract

A solar energy-assisted patch cart with a support surface for carrying and heating bituminous materials, a heating source located adjacent to the support surface, and a battery powered at least in part by solar energy for igniting a burner associated with the heating source. Preferably, a charge controller is used to maintain the battery with a predetermined level of charge. The solar energy may be supplied by one or more retractable solar panels in electric communication with the battery.

Claims

1. A solar energy-assisted patch cart, comprising:

a heat-conductive support surface adapted to carry and heat a bituminous material placed within the patch cart;

a heating source located adjacent the support surface, for heating the support surface and, by heat conduction, the bituminous material; and

a battery powered at least in part by solar energy for igniting a burner associated with the heating source.

2. The solar energy-assisted patch cart of claim 1, wherein the battery is in electrical communication with one or more solar panels.

3. The solar energy-assisted patch cart of claim 2, wherein the solar panel(s) are located in a retractable fashion adjacent the patch cart, whereby when the patch cart is loaded with the bituminous material, the solar panel(s) may be inclined in a position to substantially avoid contact with the bituminous material as it is loaded.

4. The solar energy-assisted patch cart of claim 1, wherein the heating source comprises a fuel.

5. The solar energy-assisted patch cart of claim 4, wherein the fuel comprises diesel fuel.

6. The solar energy-assisted patch cart of claim 1, wherein the bituminous material comprises asphalt.

7. A solar energy-assisted patch cart, comprising:

a heat-conductive support surface adapted to carry and heat a bituminous material placed within the patch cart;

a heating source located adjacent the support surface, for heating the support surface and, by heat conduction, the bituminous material;

a battery powered at least in part by solar energy for igniting a burner associated with the heating source; and

a charge controller in electrical communication with the battery, to facilitate maintaining the battery within a predetermined level of charge.

8. The solar energy-assisted patch cart of claim 7, wherein the charge controller provides voltage control.

9. The solar energy-assisted patch cart of claim 7, wherein the charge controller provides current limit control.

10. The solar energy-assisted patch cart of claim 7, wherein the charge controller comprises a photovoltaic charge controller.

11. The solar energy-assisted patch cart of claim 7, further comprising a power booster in electrical communication with the battery.

12. The solar energy-assisted patch cart of claim 7, further comprising a volt/amp meter in electrical communication with the battery.

13. A solar energy-assisted patch cart, comprising:

a heat-conductive support surface adapted to carry and heat a bituminous material placed within the patch cart;

a heating source located adjacent the support surface, for heating the support surface and, by heat conduction, the bituminous material; and

solar panels in electrical communication with the heating source for selectively powering ignition and maintenance of the heating source.